The Librarian's Internet - Now, Grown-Ups Have Their Say

Last Month's column featured the best Web sites for book reviews written by kids. This time, I've selected top sources for reviews by grownups. Happy reading.

This colorful, kid-friendly site is a model of its kind. The detailed book reviews—which include picture books—are written by library staff and arranged by topic. After selecting a subject, you can narrow your search to a particular age group; use the "Book Audience" pull-down menu. View reader comments, or contribute your own.. If you're thinking of creating a similar site, check this one out. Grades: Pre-K–6. Created by: The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, NC. Don't Miss: The new "My Booklist" feature that lets kids create personal booklists on the site and e-mail the link to friends.

On this user-friendly search page, kids choose their grade level, category, fiction or nonfiction, and up to five topics—from "Bedtime and Dreams" to "Law and Crime"—to retrieve an annotated list of reading choices. Users seeking a specific author or title perform their searches on another page. Grades: K–8. Created by: The Book Adventure Foundation, Sylvan Learning Systems, Baltimore, MD. Don't Miss: The "Five Finger Test," a novel way for kids to tell if a book is too difficult for them to read. Detour: For brief lists of age-appropriate books visit www.bookadventure.org/sf/RB_Recommends.asp.

Here's a nice set of book reviews by author and storyteller Carol Hurst, many of which have appeared in Teaching K–8 magazine. Featured reviews also include discussion topics, activities, related books, and links to similar reviews on this site—terrific for teachers and homeschoolers. Grades: Pre-K–9. Created by: Carol Otis Hurst, Westfield, MA. Don't Miss: The "Grade Level" review lists —a real timesaver for finding just the right book for young readers.

Search this versatile site four different ways: by title or author, the awards a book has won, the Kid-Lit star system, or other criteria, including reading level, keyword, and genre. Reviews also contain a plot synopsis and, where appropriate, cautions. Picture books are not included. Grades: 2–9+. Created by: Terri Combs, mother of four, Ellicott City, MD. Don't Miss: The "Quick Lists," which include titles that adults will also enjoy reading.

This site offers gutsy, sometimes controversial, book reviews for older teens. Entries are arranged by such real-life subjects as eating disorders, falling in love, and drug use. On the lighter side, there's teen vampires and being in a band. This site may not be suitable for all kids and their parents, but it handles books that other sites won't touch. Grades: 9–12. Created by: Jennifer Hubert, librarian, Elisabeth Irwin High School, New York City. Don't Miss: The "Graphic Fantastic" section for top graphic fiction, such as Art Spiegelman's Maus series.

Here's an edgy bunch of book reviews for older teens, though not as controversial as Reading Rants. Provocative topical headings include "Awakenings," "Pressure," and "Fitting In." Grades: 9–12. Created by: Cathy Young, editor, Vancouver, WA. Don't Miss: The list of teen zines—it's fun for older teens.